Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Varaha Mims
Media Release (update No. 2)
Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a 28-year-old Hilo man in connection with the stabbing of three individuals in two separate locations in Hilo just after midnight Friday (May 23).
At 4 p.m. Saturday (May 24), Varaha Nrsngha Mims was charged with first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal property damage, first-degree burglary and third-degree promoting a detrimental drug. His bail was set at $500,000. He remains in custody at the Hilo police cellblock.
At 12:02 a.m. Friday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to 168 Keawe Street and found a 28-year-old Pāhoa man and a 27-year-old Hilo woman with stab wounds. A man unknown to them had reportedly stabbed them outside a bar, damaged a car and then fled on foot toward the Wainaku area.
Minutes after police arrived at the scene, they received additional calls reporting a stabbing at a residence on the 300 block of Ohai Street in the Wainaku area. Responding officers found a 49-year-old man with multiple stab wounds. At 7:36 a.m., police located Mims at the home of a Hilo acquaintance and arrested him.
All three victims were initially taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The Pāhoa man is now in serious condition at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. The Hilo man is in stable condition at Hilo Medical Center. The woman was treated for her injuries and released on Friday.
Police ask anyone with information about these cases or anyone who may have witnessed either incident to contact Detective Todd Patarayat 961-2382 or tpataray@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
